The air was heavy with silence after the last exchange, broken only by the distant crackle of fire and the steady pounding of Kai's heartbeat. Raven was on one knee, cloak torn, his shadows unraveling like smoke. Yet even wounded, his presence still pressed against the rooftop like a storm that refused to die.
Kai's crimson aura flared around him, heat distorting the air. Lira's blade gleamed faintly, steady in her hands though her arms ached from the weight of battle. Together, they faced Raven—the enemy who had haunted every step of their journey.
Raven laughed suddenly, bitter and hollow. "You think this is victory? You think the light has won?" His eyes burned with defiance, even as black blood dripped from his mouth. "You haven't even touched the throne of shadows."
Kai narrowed his gaze, stepping forward, fists blazing brighter. "Then we'll break the throne, too."
Lira echoed him, her voice unwavering. "Every chain, every shadow—you'll fall with them."
Raven slammed his palms into the ground. The rooftop quaked violently, as if the earth itself was rejecting his power. From the cracks, black pillars of shadow erupted, surrounding the three of them like the walls of a collapsing cage.
At the center, Raven rose, lifting his arms as the shadows fused into a towering form behind him. It resembled a monstrous throne of darkness, jagged and writhing, its "crown" piercing the storming sky.
"This is my dominion!" Raven roared, his voice booming like thunder. "Within the throne of shadows, you are nothing but insects!"
The monstrous throne pulsed, releasing waves of energy that forced Kai and Lira to their knees. The weight was unbearable—every breath like fire in their lungs, every heartbeat a struggle.
Lira grit her teeth, forcing herself to rise. "Kai… we can't let this end here."
Kai pressed his fist against the ground, crimson fire leaking from his knuckles as he forced himself upward. His body screamed, but his will blazed stronger. "No… it ends with us."
They stood, their auras colliding, intertwining—crimson fire and silver light spiraling together until the rooftop itself seemed to breathe with them.
Raven's eyes widened slightly at the sight. "What… is this?"
Kai's voice was steady, his eyes locked forward. "This is what happens when fire and light refuse to break."
Lira raised her sword, her hand brushing briefly against Kai's. "This is our resolve."
Together, they charged.
The crimson and silver aura struck the towering throne of shadow, their combined force shaking the very sky. Raven screamed, his voice tearing through the storm as cracks spread across his dominion.
The throne shattered. Darkness exploded outward, consumed by fire and light.
And when the smoke cleared, Raven staggered forward, his body broken, his throne gone.
For the first time… he looked afraid.
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